Colombo: Sri Lanka today experienced its worst ever bomb blasts that ripped through three churches and three hotels. The deadly blasts have claimed more than 185 lives. The dead include more than 35 foreigners. Most of the target were the Easter Sunday churchgoers. The death toll is expected to rise.

The serial blasts occurred around 8: 45 am in the morning in Sri Lankan capital Colombo. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the attacks as "cowardly" and said the government was working to control the situation. The army has been called in to rescue operations. A radical Muslim organization is belived to be behind the blasts.

The first blast occurred at St Anthony's Shrine in the capital city of Colombo where a large number people had gathered on the occasion of Easter Sunday. The second explosion took place the St Sebastian's church in Negombo, in the north to the capital of Colombo. In a few minutes a third blast was confirmed in a church in Batticaloa followed by the blasts in three high profile Hotels.

The dead include many foreigners from the UK, USA, Japan and the Netherlands. President Maithripala Sirisena has appealed for calm in this difficult situation and the prime minister was expected to speak to the media.